The New York Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Cup final on Saturday night, but the loudest moment inside T-Mobile Arena came before the opening tip.
As the Knicks and Orlando Magic took the floor for their NBA Cup semifinal matchup in Las Vegas, Knicks fans made their feelings clear. The boos raining down were aimed squarely at Magic guard Desmond Bane, setting an intense tone before the game even began.
Why Knicks Fans Targeted Desmond Bane
According to the NBA Courtside X handle, Bane was greeted with boos the moment he appeared on the court.
“Desmond Bane received boos from Knicks fans in Vegas,” the account reported.
The reaction was not random. It stemmed from a heated moment during a previous meeting between the two teams on Dec. 7 at Madison Square Garden.
In that game, a bizarre sequence unfolded late in the fourth quarter. After Knicks forward OG Anunoby fell out of bounds following a fast break, Bane threw the ball one-handed directly at Anunoby. The action immediately escalated. Anunoby got up, shoved Bane, and exchanged words with him as officials stepped in.
Bane was assessed a technical foul during the incident. The Knicks went on to close out a 106-100Â victory, but the crowd at MSG never forgot the moment. Every time Bane touched the ball afterward, he was loudly booed.
The NBA also took notice. League officials later fined Bane $35,000 for throwing the game ball with force at an opponent in what was ruled an unsportsmanlike act. The fine was announced by James Jones, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations.
Saturday night in Las Vegas proved that Knicks fans were still holding onto that memory.
Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks to NBA Cup Final
Despite the hostile reception, Bane remained composed on the court. He finished the game with 18 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, showing little sign of being affected by the boos.
However, his solid performance was overshadowed by a dominant showing from Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Brunson erupted for 40 points while adding four rebounds and eight assists, controlling the game from start to finish.
OG Anunoby also played a key role, contributing 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists. His strong performance carried extra significance given his history with Bane and the emotions surrounding the matchup.
The Knicks defeated the Magic 132-120, securing their place in the NBA Cup final. New York entered the semifinals after defeating the Toronto Raptors, while the Magic earned their spot by knocking off the Miami Heat in the quarterfinals.
With the win, the Knicks now await the winner of the other semifinal matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
